Matt Hughes officially retires, takes executive position with Zuffa

After several months of uncertainty about the future of Matt Hughes, UFC President Dana White today announced the UFC Hall of Famer and ex-welterweight champ’s official retirement.

Hughes (45-9 MMA, 18-6 UFC) will segue into a position with UFC parent company Zuffa as vice president of athlete development and government relations, White said.

“I love this sport, and the new position is the best way for me to stay in it moving forward,” Hughes said in a brief statement today at a press conference in support of UFC on FOX 6.

White praised the two-time champion’s loyalty to the UFC over 12 years with Zuffa.

“There were always a few guys that I knew I could count on, and Matt Hughes was one of those guys,” he said.

Hughes leaves the octagon with an 18-6 record. He is tied with current welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre for most successful title defenses (7) and holds the record for most title fights in the UFC welterweight division (12).

Hughes’ new role in athlete development came about after a survey of major sporting leagues, said UFC chief counsel Lawrence Epstein. Those that classified athletes as independent contractors utilized the position to mentor athletes and steer them away from decisions that could reflect poorly on them and the league.

“Matt Hughes’ record not only as an individual, but a fighter, is second to none,” Epstein said. “He’s always held himself to the highest ethical standards.”

In August, White said he wanted Hughes to retire and was battling the fighter over the decision.

“It’s so hard for these guys to say, ‘I’m retired.’ It’s so hard,” White said.

Four months later, Hughes said he didn’t want to call it quits, but would be open to the type of post-career position given to ex-champ Chuck Liddell, who was named the UFC’s Vice President of Business Development after hanging up his gloves.

Still, Hughes said his competitive flame had not died out.

“You look at the last two Hall of Famers that retired, Chuck and Randy (Couture) – and even Royce (Gracie) – they walked out with losses,” Hughes said. “I really don’t want to do that.

“In a perfect world, I go out on top with my hand raised, and I’m done.”

Hughes’ most recent appearances ended in knockout losses. He was stopped in 21 seconds by ex-champ B.J. Penn at UFC 123 and inside a round against Josh Koscheck at UFC 135 in September 2011. Calls for his retirement increased, but he remained noncommittal.

A dominant force in the early days of the Zuffa-owned UFC, Hughes won his first welterweight title at UFC 34 and defended his belt five times before ceding it to Penn at UFC 46. He won the title back at UFC 50 by submitting Georges St-Pierre, then lost it to him at UFC 65. He went 4-4 inside the octagon afterward.

A wrestler by trade, Hughes’ ground and pound technique is considered among the best in the sport’s history.